So, I've finally replaced the 3 DECOs with a pair of ASUS ZenWiFi BQ16 BE25000 and so far I'm pretty happy.

The devices are much smaller and arguably better looking.

The power brick is much smaller and easier to hide.

WiFi 7 (MLO) performance is similar between the DECO and the ASUS at around 2Gbps UP and DOWN.

LAN to the satellite was better with the DECO (~5gbps) compared to the ASUS (~4Gbps), I guess the bigger size of the DECOs helped here.

Latencies are much better with the ASUS. With the DECO it was pretty inconsistent and always jumping up and down. Now it's pretty consistent and much lower.

I had another issue with my TAPO cameras, where they would be disconnected from the network most of the time. It's only been 24h, but so far not a single disconnect.

I gained one LAN port per device, but the ASUS has 3x1 Gbps and 2x10 Gbps, whereas the DECOs had 2x2.5 Gbps and 2x10 Gbps, so the DECOs where also better here.

Range seems to be better on the ASUS, I had quite weak signal on the balcony, and now it shows full signal and works quite well, but I didn't check anywhere else.

Another major win for the ASUS is that it can be completly setup on the web, not only the app.

I can't find a way to change the iOS ASUS app to dark mode, the DECO wins there.

On the DECO I could manually set a a specific band for a device, I can't find a way to do it on the ASUS.

On the ASUS, binding a device to a preferred router actually works. On the DECO I could set a preferred router, but most of the time it was not respected.

And the best part, my home network still works when there's no internet connection.

(All speed and latency tests made against 2 machines connected with 10 Gbps on the main Router, with open speed test, with the routers on the same locations. WiFi tests were also ran from the same place every time).

The ASUS is more expensive, and the MLO backhaul (at least for my setup and location of the 2 devices) is slower, but overall works much better. Totally worth the change in my experience.

Starting the return / refund proccess now. Hopefully I don't have to keep this completely unusable product.

  @TP-Link  , this issue is still in the latest software. Is there a fix date available or road map? It is super annoying when you loose the internet connection that you internally loose all wifi connections. These things should not even be on any forum. 

So warning for anyone who wants to buy a TP-Link deco system. DON'T.... complaints are not taken seriously for trivial stuff.  Your wifi should not stop working if your internet line fails. Simple as that.

  @lordcracker sadly it does affect satellites. It affects anything connected to the wired port and having taken down the primary deco - thst shuts down the rest 

  @TP-Link 

Since the issue does not happen on the satellites, I added a second deco, wired to the main, and connected my servers to it.

I've manually set the 3rd deco to connect directly to it. But how do I disable wifi on the main unit?

@armstrongm2006 just to let you know - i returned my unit, there was no problem with return. Now i have some competition solution, not omada, unfortunately but just because i was angry at time. Anyway deco had great wifi range, but firmware/software is just nuts.

@Rob73 just to let you know that they may be no update, if it is critical application you need to take care about you. But i wish you and deco best.

  @TP-Link@ lordcracker makes a good point.   I purchased the Deco system to operate a LAN mesh. I SHOULD be able to use that LAN mesh independently of any WAN connection. I may not want my LAN connected to the Internet.

The Deco systems do NOT allow us to use the LAN mesh, therefore they are NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE and therefore can be returned at any time, in my opinion. In most countries, if you discover that a product is not fit for purpose you can return it for a full refund or replacement.

Perhaps if we ALL return our devices to Tp-Link they may get the message that we're serious and FIX THIS BUG.

In my latest attempt to contact tp-link support they claimed to know nothing about this issue 9"feature").

Ask to return your device. Buy something that works as a LAN mesh.

  @TP-Link 

I also have the BE85 and was shocked when I found this thread. It is insane that not only, they're not able to fix a bug after 4 years, but they even try to call it a feature.

The mesh system otherwise is pretty solid and I was quite satisfied with it until my internet was down and I found this issue. But rendering my smart home, security system, media center and home lab completely useless if the internet goes down is just unacceptable. Given that this was a very expensive device (plus the price of upgrading other devices to 10gb and wifi 7), I would really really like avoid having to return it.

So, I would like to start by asking how can I contact the support directly, to request that someone remotes in and sets my wan port fixed to port 1?

Second, for everyone that is starting to feel hopeless and thinking you just spent a lot of money on what are essentialy paperweights, because you missed the retun window, You might still be in luck if you live in a country with strong consumer protection laws. (especially now, with all the distrust associated with the brand recently).

I'll give the example of Germany, where you have two ways to return a faulty device:

Gewährleistung (Statutory Warranty - 2 Years)

• The retailer is responsible for defects that existed at the time of purchase (even if they only become noticeable later).
• Since this issue was known since 2021, the device was already defective when you bought it.
• Within 12 months, the burden of proof is on the seller (used to be 6 months, but was extended in 2022). After that, you’d have to prove the defect existed from the start.

Rückgabe wegen erheblichem Mangel (Return Due to a Major Defect)

• If the device doesn’t perform a promised function (like keeping LAN running when WAN is down), it was sold with false advertising or an undisclosed defect.

  @losthope 

I would definitely return it, they promised this fix thru tech support saying 6/2024, and still nothing, they will tell u what u want to hear so u don't return, it, I say return it asap because they will try to screw u out of a return, by saying a firmware release would be fixed after your warranty timeframe passes. There is no fix they are going to do, it's a bold lie on their part

  @TP-Link 

My BE65 is dropping all WiFi connections when facing some dns problems (NOT lack of Internet, router had 100% time internet), red light and all your wifi is gone, cya. Of course all local connections are down because my deco is set as access point while im using own router, and ive spend whole week to monitor my router, my pihole server, running cables to iot devices to "fix them", and then ive found this thread, oh boy.

But i realised something, they just cant make deco smart or managed, because it would be omada, and deco cant be omada. It have to be stupid app dependent, it will have autosensing, we can all write some funny posts, but i have another week to return this guano to vendor, you may not, i wish you best, and i hope tp link will fix it.